City news in 250 words

THE NOD FROM THE MEN Arena last night to say Britain’s Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle has pulled out of the live Manchester versions of the show. Fans are being offered refunds as the songstress feels the stress and goes off the boil. Whether she continues with other performances particularly in her home country is open to doubt.

GREATER MANCHESTER stations are to be improved with £1.3m of funds pumped into safety facilities. Customer information monitors, extra *CCTV cameras, help points, customer information screens and public announcement systems (aren’t the latter standard already?) are being installed in ten train stations this month, including Rochdale, Oldham, Wigan, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and so on. Further work will then take place at Burnage, Cheadle Hulme, Greenfield, Mauldeth Road, Swinton stations and others by autumn. .

A 17-YEAR OLD has appeared in court accused of the murder of Guiseppe Gregory. The 16-year-old boy was shot in the head *outside the Robin Hood pub in Stretford in early May. The accused has also been charged with attempted murder, possession of an illegal firearm and possession of cocaine. The boy who cannot be named for legal reasons will face trial on 28 August.

MANCHESTER-based poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, has started off with a bang. Instead of a polite poem about The Trooping of the Colour, or another loyal, royal theme, her subject is corruption in politics. In ‘Politics’ s*he satirises the Labour Government and the lack of idealism in those who choose to represent us.

This 'n' That wisdom:Before borrowing money from a friend, decide which you need more

Taken from the free calendar available at This 'n' That, Soap Street, Northern Quarter. Those curry masters are so very, very sagacious. How does this wisdom rate? 9/10

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